Masterblend International completes $2.6 million expansion

Masterblend International has finished a $2.6 million expansion intended to improve manufacturing agility and flexibility, the company stated.

Masterblend relocated to Morris, IL in early 2010, and since then has invested $2.6 million in facility improvments. The expansion enables Masterblend to increase its productivity and “expand fertilizer manufacturing and blending operations,” stated the company in a press release.

Masterblend made the move to Morris because it deemed its former facility in Ellwood, Ill., inefficient, stated the release. Consisting of many small, old buildings, the Ellwood facility stifled Masterblend’s capacity to expand, it added.

The new facility is a 55,000-square-foot space that houses all of Masterblend’s operations, including manufacturing, precision blending and packaging. Having all its divisions centrally located will enable it to be more efficient, the company said in the release.

“We found that our customers want to be sure we have the flexibility and capability to produce at the levels they require,” said Mark Jeffries, Masterblend vice president and chief operating officer. “…They need to know we can alter production levels and deliver the volume of product they need, when they need it. Our old facility simply wouldn’t allow for this type of production agility.”